Audio output adjusting device of home theater system and method thereof

ABSTRACT

A home theater system, an audio output adjusting device of a home theater system and methods thereof allow a prescribed or three-dimension audio configuration state for at least one prescribed position even when the prescribed location and/or a configuration of the speakers in a home theater system are modified. The device can include a checker for analyzing at least one of volume and delay time of a test audio signal outputted from speakers and providing the analyzed information to a controller. The controller can control output level and timing of audio signals subsequently output from the speakers based on the analyzed information.

This application is a continuation reissue application of U.S. Reissueapplication Ser. No. 12/886,432 (U.S. Pat. No. Re. 44,170), filed Sep.20, 2010, which is a reissue of U.S. Pat. No. 7,428,310 issued on Sep.23, 2008. The present application also claims foreign priority benefitsof Korean Patent Application No. 10-2002-0088368 filed Dec. 31, 2002.The entirety of each of the above-identified documents is herebyincorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to home theater systems and methods, andmore particularly, to audio output adjusting methods of a home theatersystem and devices thereof.

2. Description of the Conventional Art

A home theater system refers to a theater system that is transferred toa room in a home so a user can enjoy programs at home. The home theatersystem is constituted with an image device such as a projector, aprojection (e.g., a large screen TV), a plasma display panel (PDP), anda digital/general TV, an amplifier provided with a basic 5.1 channel, adigital theater system such as a dolby digital, etc., and a speakersystem of 5.1 channel (front (L/R), rear (L/R), center, active subwoofer). The home theater system includes a DVD player, and clear imagesof the home theater system can be seen at home through a screen or TVmedia. Also, the home theater system reproduces grandeur and sound thatcan be appreciated as in a theater.

The home theater system can implement a clean high picture quality on ascreen and can reproduce three-dimensional sound by reproducing 2channel stereo sound into 5.1 channel like a VCR and a TV broadcastingsince dolby prologic technique or the like is applied thereto.

Generally, in the home theater system, a place where the home theatersystem will be installed and a region where a user will be positioned atthe installation place (e.g., a peripheral region of a sofa in a livingroom) are set as a base region or configuration before a product ispresented out. Then, sound level and output timing of an audio signaloutputted from speakers of the home theater system are set in the hometheater system in order to reproduce utmost three-dimensional sound inthe base region.

As described above, related art home theater systems have variousdisadvantages. In the related art home theater system, sound level andoutput timing of an audio signal are not additionally adjusted afterthey are set at the first stage of a product presentation. Accordingly,if a place where the home theater system will be installed and a regionwhere a user will be positioned are subsequently changed, a prescribedaudio reception or an optimum audio surround sound cannot be provided.

The above references are incorporated by reference herein whereappropriate for appropriate teachings of additional or alternativedetails, features and/or technical background.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the invention is to solve at least the above problemsand/or disadvantages and to provide at least the advantages describedhereinafter.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an audio outputadjusting device of a home theater system and a method thereof capableof controlling an output audio state for a selected position of aplurality of positions.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an audio outputadjusting device of a home theater system and a method thereof capableof making a user appreciate audio in a prescribed state even if aposition of speakers is changed by controlling output level and timingof an audio signal outputted from the speakers according to a positionof the speakers.

To achieve at least these objects and other advantages in whole or inpart and in accordance with the purpose of the present invention, asembodied and broadly described herein, there is provided an audio outputadjusting device of a home theater system that includes a checkerconfigured to receive volume and delay time of a test audio signaloutputted from speakers and a controller configured to control outputlevel and timing of a subsequent audio signal outputted from thespeakers based on an analysis of the volume and delay time of thereceived test audio signal.

To further achieve these objects and other advantages in a whole or inpart and in accordance with the purpose of the present invention, asembodied and broadly described herein, there is also provided an audiooutput adjusting method of a home theater system that includesoutputting a test audio signal according to a request, analyzing volumelevel and timing of the outputted test audio signal and controllingoutput level and timing of subsequent audio signals outputted fromspeakers based on the analyzed information.

To further achieve these objects and other advantages in a whole or inpart and in accordance with the purpose of the present invention, asembodied and broadly described herein, there is also provided an audiooutput adjusting method that includes requesting output of a prescribedtest signal by output audio devices of a home entertainment system in afirst configuration, wherein a configuration determines a positionalrelationship between the output audio devices and a prescribed location,analyzing the prescribed test signal transmitted by the output audiodevices in a second configuration different than the first configurationand modifying the control of the audio signals to be subsequently outputby the output audio devices according to the analyzed prescribed testsignal to establish a prescribed audio state of the secondconfiguration.

Additional advantages, objects, and features of the invention will beset forth in part in the description which follows and in part willbecome apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art uponexamination of the following or may be learned from practice of theinvention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realizedand attained as particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be described in detail with reference to thefollowing drawings in which like reference numerals refer to likeelements wherein:

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a preferred embodiment of an audio outputadjusting device of a home theater system according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing a preferred embodiment of an audio outputadjusting method of a home theater system according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an exemplary configuration of locating aprescribed audio state within a selected region; and

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing another preferred embodiment of an audiooutput adjusting method of a home theater system according to thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made to embodiments of the present invention,examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.Embodiments of an audio output adjusting device and method of a hometheater system are capable of controlling a prescribed or an optimumaudio state when a position of speakers is changed or a desiredlistening position is changed by controlling output level and timing ofan audio signal outputted from the speakers according to a position ofthe speakers will now be described.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of an audio output adjustingdevice of a home theater system according to the present invention. Asshown in FIG. 1, an audio output adjusting device of a home theatersystem according to the present invention can include speakers 31, 32,33, 34, 35, and 36 located at a user's periphery, a checker 10 and amain controller 20. The checker 10 can output a test audio signal usingthe speakers, analyze volume and delay time of the test audio signaloutputted from the speakers, and preferably output the analyzedinformation to the main controller. The main controller 20 can controloutput level and timing of an audio signal outputted from the speakersbased on the analyzed information, which can be received from thechecker 10.

Operations of the audio output adjusting device of a home theater systemshown in FIG. 1 will now be described. When the main controller 20receives an audio output adjusting key signal, the main controller 20adjusts an audio signal output. For example, the main controller 20 canoutput a predetermined test audio signal to the speakers 31, 32, 33, 34,35, and 36. The test audio signal preferably denotes an audio signalhaving a predetermined output level in order to adjust an audio outputof a home theater system, and volume level and output timing of the testaudio signal are preferably set before the home theater system ispresented for sale. However, the present invention is not intended to beso limited. For example, the test audio signal could be subsequentlyadded or additional characteristics of the test audio signal could beset and/or monitored.

The speakers 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, and 36 output the inputted test audiosignal, which can be received by the checker 10. The test signal can beselected from a set of various test signals or can be a plurality ofsignals transmitted in series for reception and analysis by the checker10.

The checker 10 can analyze volume and delay time or the like of theinputted test audio signal and can output the analyzed information tothe main controller 20. That is, the checker 10 is preferably installedor located at a position of a user, who will appreciate substantiallythree-dimensional (3D) audio, to analyze volume level and delay time ofthe test audio signal outputted from the speakers 31, 32, 33, 34, 35,and 36. It is preferable that the checker 10 is independently installedas an additional device or is added to a remote controller. However, thepresent invention is not intended to be so limited.

Then, the main controller 20 can adjust output level and timing of anaudio signal outputted from the speakers 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, and 36 onthe basis of the analyzed information. However, the present invention isnot intended to be so limited. For example, the checker 10 could performthe complete analysis and output adjustments directly to the speakers ormain controller. Alternatively, the checker 10 could output raw datafrom the received test audio signal to the main controller 20.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing an embodiment of an audio outputadjusting method of a home theater system according to the presentinvention. The embodiment of an audio output adjusting method can beapplied to and will be described using the system shown in FIG. 1.However, the present invention is not intended to be so limited. Asshown in FIG. 2, the audio output adjusting method of a home theatersystem can include sequentially outputting a test audio signal to thespeakers upon request, analyzing volume and delay time of the inputtedaudio signal and controlling output level and timing of an audio signaloutputted from the speakers based on the analyzed information.

As shown in FIG. 2, after a process starts, the user can output an audiooutput adjusting key signal to the main controller 20 when they desireto analyze or appreciate (e.g., listen) to audio having a prescribed oroptimum (e.g., 3D) state in an installation environment of the hometheater system (block 21) or periodically. The user can transmit the keysignal by using a remote controller, an input device, etc.

The main controller 20 judges whether the received key signal is theaudio output adjusting signal (block 22). When the inputted key signalis the audio output adjusting key signal (block 22), a function foradjusting the audio signal output can be performed. The main controller20 can output the predetermined test audio signal to the speakers 31,32, 33, 34, 35, and 36 when the inputted key signal is the audio outputadjusting key signal (block 23). The test audio signal preferablyindicates an audio signal having a predetermined output level in orderto adjust an audio output of the home theater system. For example,volume levels and timings of the test audio signal can be set before thehome theater system is presented for sale.

The speakers 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, and 36 sequentially and/or incombination can output the test audio signal received from the maincontroller 20 having the predetermined volume level and output timing tothe checker 10 (block 25). For example, the main controller 20 can setan output timing order of the test audio signal in the order of thespeakers forming the theater system such as a center speaker 31, a frontleft speaker 34, a front right speaker 33, a rear left speaker 36, arear right speaker 35, and a woofer speaker 32.

The checker 10 can analyze volume and delay time of an audio signalinputted from the speakers 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, and 36 and output theanalyzed information to the main controller 20 (block 26). The maincontroller 20 receives the analyzed information of the checker 10, andthe main controller 20 can adjust output level and timing outputted fromthe speakers 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, and 36 to be suitable for aninstallation space of the speakers on the basis of the analyzedinformation (block 27).

When the main controller 20 judges the inputted key signal is not theaudio output adjusting key signal (block 22) the main controller 20 canperform a function corresponding to the inputted key signal (block 24).Therefore, the user can appreciate audio of the home theater system as adesired three-dimensional sound or an optimum state even if aninstallation place of the home theater system is changed. After blocks27 and 24, the process can end.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing another embodiment of an audio outputadjusting device of a home theater system according to the presentinvention. As shown in FIG. 3, an audio output adjusting device of ahome theater system according to the embodiment can include speakers(e.g., located at a user's periphery), a checker and a main controller(not shown). The embodiment of the audio output adjusting device of FIG.3 can be applied to and will be described using the system shown inFIG. 1. However, the present invention is not intended to be so limited.

As shown in FIG. 3, a grid 40 or the like can be determined with aprescribed relationship to the speakers (e.g., speakers 31, 33, 34, 35and 36). As shown in FIG. 3, the grid 40 has a prescribed configuration(e.g., rectangular) including a plurality of grid units (40-1, . . .40-2) (e.g., square) having a matrix form. However, the presentinvention is not intended to be so limited. For example, the grid units(40-1, . . . 40-2) could have a different shape such as a rectangle, acircle, an asymmetrical shape or the like or a combination of shapes.Further, the grid configuration could be different including anasymmetrical shape such as corresponding to open area of a room.

The grid units (40-1, . . . , 40-n) forming the grid 40 can havepredefined characteristics stored, for example, in memory 60 in FIG. 1,for each of the plurality of speakers so that the prescribed audio soundor optimum sound in generated at a corresponding grid unit when thecorresponding predefined characteristics are used by the audio outputadjusting device. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the predefinedcharacteristics can include a level and delay for each of the speakers.However, the present invention is not intended to be so limited as otheror additional control variables for the speaker output can be used.Exemplary values for the predefined characteristics are shown for two ofthe grid units (40-1, . . . , 40-n) in FIG. 3. Further, the wooferspeaker 32 can also be included.

Operations of the audio output adjusting device of a home theater systemof FIG. 3 will now be explained. The speakers 31, 33, 34, 35, and 36 canoutput a test audio signal to the checker 10. The checker 10 can analyzeat least volume and delay time of the inputted test audio signal and canoutput the analyzed information to the main controller 20. For example,the checker 10 can include a microphone that receives the output testsignal. The checker 10 can then compare the received test signal to thestored predefined characteristics to determine in which grid unit 40-1,40-2, . . . , 40-n it is currently positioned. Analyzed informationcorresponding to the determined grid unit can then be output by thechecker 10. Then, the main controller 20 can adjust output level andtiming of an audio signal outputted from the speakers 31, 33, 34, 35,and 36 on the basis of the analyzed information. In other words, themain controller 20 could store audio output control requirements foreach of the plurality of grid units (40-1, . . . 40-2) or a plurality ofpreset or user defined grids 40. Alternatively, the checker 10 couldoutput the raw data or results of received test signal to the maincontroller 20 for analysis.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing another embodiment of an audio outputadjusting method of audio output adjusting method of a home theatersystem according to the present invention. The embodiment of an audiooutput adjusting method of FIG. 4 can be applied to and will bedescribed using the system shown in FIG. 1. However, the presentinvention is not intended to be so limited.

As shown in FIG. 4, after a process starts, the user can output an audiooutput adjusting key signal to the main controller 20 to analyze anaudio state in an installation environment of the home theater system(block 41). The user can transmit the key signal by using a remotecontroller, an input device, etc.

The main controller 20 judges whether the received key signal is theaudio output adjusting signal (block 42). When the inputted key signalis the audio output adjusting key signal (block 42) the audio signaloutput can be adjusted. The main controller 20 can output thepredetermined test audio signal to the speakers 31, 33, 34, 35, and 36when the inputted key signal is the audio output adjusting key signal(block 43). The test audio signal preferably indicates an audio signalhaving a predetermined output level in order to analyze and adjust anaudio output of the home theater system. Volume levels and timings, etc.of the test audio signal can be preset.

The speakers 31, 33, 34, 35, and 36 sequentially and/or in combinationcan output the test audio signal received from the main controller 20 tothe checker 10 by the predetermined volume level and output timing ofthe audio signal (block 45). For example, the main controller 20 can setan output timing order of the test audio signal in the order of thespeakers forming the theater system such as a center speaker 31, a frontleft speaker 33, a front right speaker 34, a rear left speaker 35, arear right speaker 36 and/or a woofer speaker 32.

The checker 10 can analyze volume and delay time of an audio signalinputted from the speakers 31, 33, 34, 35, and 36, determine a grid unitcontaining the checker 10 and output the analyzed information to themain controller 20 (block 46). For example, the checker can include amicrophone that records the received test signal. Then, the speakeroutput can be compared to a reference signal and a difference (orsimilar combinations/comparisons) can be determined. The difference canbe output to the main controller as the analyzed information. The maincontroller 20 receives the analyzed information of the checker 10, andthe main controller 20 can determine which of the grid units 40-1, 40-2,. . . , 40-n the checker 10 is located (block 46). Alternatively, thechecker 10 could determine the grid unit containing the checker 10 andoutput the identified grid and/or its corresponding predefinedcharacteristics. Then, the main controller 20 can adjust output leveland timing outputted from the speakers 31, 33, 34, 35, and 36 accordingto the predefined characteristics of the identified or selected gridunit 40-1, 40-2, . . . , 40-n (block 47). Therefore, the user canappreciate audio of the home theater system as a desiredthree-dimensional sound or an optimum state even if a location of auser, configuration of the speakers (e.g., 31, 32, 33, 34, 35 and 36)and/or an installation place of the home theater system is changed.

When the main controller 20 judges the inputted key signal is not theaudio output adjusting key signal (block 42) the main controller 20 canperform a function corresponding to the inputted key signal (block 44).After blocks 47 and 44, the process can end.

As described above, embodiments of a home theater system, home theatersystem audio adjusting device and methods thereof have variousadvantages. In embodiments of the audio output adjusting device of ahome theater system and methods thereof, the user can appreciate audioof the home theater system in a prescribed audio configuration stateeven if an installation place of the home theater system is changed bycontrolling output level and timing of an audio signal outputted fromthe speakers.

Any reference in this specification to “one embodiment,” “anembodiment,” “example embodiment,” etc., means that a particularfeature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with theembodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the invention. Theappearances of such phrases in various places in the specification arenot necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Further, when aparticular feature, structure, or characteristic is described inconnection with any embodiment, it is submitted that it is within thepurview of one skilled in the art to effect such feature, structure, orcharacteristic in connection with other ones of the embodiments.Furthermore, for ease of understanding, certain method procedures mayhave been delineated as separate procedures; however, these separatelydelineated procedures should not be construed as necessarily orderdependent in their performance. That is, some procedures may be able tobe performed in an alternative ordering, simultaneously, etc.

The foregoing embodiments and advantages are merely exemplary and arenot to be construed as limiting the present invention. The presentteaching can be readily applied to other types of apparatuses. Thedescription of the present invention is intended to be illustrative, andnot to limit the scope of the claims. Many alternatives, modifications,and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. In theclaims, means-plus-function clauses are intended to cover the structuresdescribed herein as performing the recited function and not onlystructural equivalents but also equivalent structures.

What is claimed is:
 1. An audio output adjusting device of a hometheater system, comprising: a memory storing predetermined controlinformation for each of a plurality of locations arranged in a gridpattern defined within a listening area, said control informationindicating an output level and timing of audio signals to be output fromeach of a plurality of speakers of the home theater system; a checkerthat is configured to detect a volume and a delay time of a test audiosignal that is simultaneously outputted from a combination of speakersand that determines its location on the grid pattern based on thedetected test audio signal; and a controller configured to control anoutput level and a timing of subsequent audio signals outputted from thespeakers based on the predetermined control information stored for thelocation on the grid pattern where the checker is located.
 2. The deviceof claim 1, wherein the speakers include a center speaker, a wooferspeaker, a front left speaker, a front right speaker, a rear leftspeaker, and a rear right speaker.
 3. The device of claim 1, wherein thechecker is installed in a remote controller configured to control thehome theater system.
 4. The device of claim 1, wherein the volume leveland output timing of the test audio signal are preset.
 5. The device ofclaim 1, wherein the checker is configured to perform the analysis andoutput analyzed information to the controller.
 6. The device of claim 1,wherein the checker transmits a signal to the controller requestingoutput of the test audio signal.
 7. The device of claim 1, wherein aposition of the checker relative to the speakers is changed.
 8. Thedevice of claim 1, wherein the analysis determines a positionalrelationship between a prescribed location and each of the speakers,wherein the controller performs the analysis.
 9. The device of claim 1,wherein at least one of the checker and the controller compare a volumeand delay time of the received test audio signal to the predeterminedcontrol information and determine the location within the grid whichmost closely corresponds to the volume and delay time of the receivedtest audio signal.
 10. An audio output adjusting method of a hometheater system, comprising: simultaneously outputting a test audiosignal from a combination of speakers according to a request; analyzinga volume level and a timing of the outputted test audio signal, whereinthe analyzing step comprises: receiving the transmitted test audiosignal with a checker; establishing a grid pattern between the speakers;and comparing reference characteristics for a plurality of locations onthe grid pattern to characteristics of the transmitted test audio signalreceived by the checker; and determining a location on the gridcontaining the checker based on the comparison; and controlling anoutput level and a timing of subsequent audio signals outputted from thespeakers based on the analyzed information.
 11. The method of claim 10,wherein the volume level and the timing of the test audio signal arepreset.
 12. The method of claim 10, wherein the outputted test audiosignal is received by the checker and then transmitted to a controller.13. The method of claim 12, wherein the checker is incorporated into aremote control device of the home theater system.
 14. The method ofclaim 10, wherein the analyzed information determines a positionalrelationship between a prescribed location and at least three speakers.15. The method of claim 10, wherein the analyzing comprises one of achecker performing the analysis to output the analyzed information tothe controller and the controller performing the analysis to determinethe analyzed information.
 16. The method of claim 10, wherein thecontrolling step comprises adjusting the subsequent audio signals basedon prescribed characteristics corresponding to the determined locationon the grid to establish a prescribed audio state for that location inthe grid.
 17. An audio output adjusting method for a home entertainmentsystem that includes a plurality of output audio devices, comprising:storing predetermined control information in the home entertainmentsystem for each of a plurality of locations arranged in a grid patterndefined within a listening area, said control information indicating anoutput level and timing of audio signals to be output from each of theoutput audio devices; transmitting a prescribed test signalsimultaneously from a plurality of the output audio devices of the homeentertainment system; receiving the prescribed test signal at aparticular location within the listening area of the home entertainmentsystem; analyzing the received prescribed test signal transmitted by theoutput audio devices; and modifying the control of the audio signals tobe subsequently output by the output audio devices according to theanalyzed prescribed test signal to establish a prescribed audio state atthe particular location, wherein control of the audio signals includesmodifying an output level and a timing of the audio signals subsequentlyoutput from one or more of the output audio devices based on thepredetermined control information stored for the particular location atwhich the prescribed test signal was received.
 18. The method of claim17, wherein the modifying the control of subsequent audio signals to beoutput is based on volume and timing of the prescribed test signalreceived at the particular location.
 19. The method of claim 17, wherein the prescribed audio state is a three-dimensional sound at theparticular location.
 20. The method of claim 17, wherein the analyzingstep comprises: receiving the transmitted prescribed test signal with achecker; comparing reference characteristics for a plurality oflocations within the grid pattern and the transmitted prescribed testsignal received by the checker; and determining a location within thegrid pattern that contains the checker based on the comparison.
 21. Themethod of claim 20, wherein the modifying step comprises adjusting thesubsequent output audio signals to establish the prescribed audio statein the location that contains the checker.
 22. A home audio system,comprising: a controller; a plurality of speakers coupled to thecontroller; a memory that stores a plurality of sets of controlinformation for a corresponding plurality of locations within alistening area of the home theater system, wherein each set of controlinformation indicates an output level and timing information for each ofthe speakers; a checker that receives a test audio signal output fromthe speakers, wherein at least one of the checker and the controllerdetermine at which of the plurality of locations within the listeningarea the checker is located based on an analysis of the received testaudio signal, and wherein the controller controls the speakers based onthe set of control information corresponding to the determined locationof the checker which is stored in the memory.
 23. A method ofcontrolling a home audio system having a plurality of speakers,comprising: receiving a test audio signal output from the plurality ofspeakers with a checker; comparing audio characteristics of the testaudio signal received by the checker to a plurality of predeterminedsets of test audio characteristics that correspond to the differentlocations within the listening area to determine which of thepredetermined sets of test audio characteristics most closely match theaudio characteristics of the test audio signal received by the checker;and determining that the checker is at the location corresponding to thepredetermined set of test audio characteristics that most closely matchthe audio characteristics of the is test signal received by the checker;and subsequently controlling the volume and timing of the audio outputfrom each of the speakers based on a predetermined set of audiocharacteristics that correspond to the location of the checker.
 24. Anaudio output adjusting device of a home theater system, the devicecomprising: a plurality of speakers; a remote controller configured totransmit user command signals including an audio output adjusting keysignal; a checking device configured to receive a test signal outputfrom each of the speakers, wherein the checking device is located at adesired listening position and includes a microphone to receive the testsignal; and a control device, coupled to the remote controller, thechecking device and the speakers, and configured to control an outputlevel of each of the speakers to provide an optimum audio state even ifthe desired listening position is changed, wherein the control device isconfigured to control each of the speakers to output the test signal tothe checking device when the control device receives the audio outputadjusting key signal from the remote controller, wherein the controldevice is configured to determine where the checking device is locatedwithin a listening area based on the test signal by comparing audiocharacteristics of the test signal to at least one of predefined audiocharacteristics corresponding to the listening area, and wherein thecontrol device is configured to control the output level of each of thespeakers according to a position of each of the speakers.
 25. The deviceof claim 24, wherein the checking device and the remote controller areindependently installed.
 26. The device of claim 24, wherein theposition of each speaker is determined to an installation place of eachof the speakers constituting the home theater system.
 27. The device ofclaim 26, wherein the control device is configured to control levels ofthe speakers to provide the optimum audio state even if the position ofeach speaker is changed after the installation.
 28. The device of claim24, wherein the control device controls each of the speakers tosequentially output the test signal to the checking device.
 29. Thedevice of claim 24, wherein the control device controls each of thespeakers in combination to output the test signal to the checkingdevice.
 30. The device of claim 24, wherein the control device includesa memory configured to store the predefined audio characteristicscorresponding to the listening area.
 31. A method of adjusting an audiosignal in a home theater system having a remote controller, a pluralityof speakers, a checking device and a control device, the methodcomprising: receiving, by the control device, an audio output adjustingkey signal from the remote controller; transmitting, by the plurality ofspeakers, a test signal to the checking device, wherein the checkingdevice is independently installed and located at a desired listeningposition; determining, by the control device, where the checking deviceis located within a listening area based on the test signal by comparingaudio characteristics of the test signal to at least one of predefinedaudio characteristics corresponding to the listening area; andcontrolling, by the control device, an output level of each of thespeakers to provide an optimum audio state according to a position ofeach of the speakers and the desired listening position, even if thedesired listening position is changed.
 32. The method of claim 31,wherein the position of each speaker is determined to an installationplace of each of the speakers constituting the home theater system. 33.The method of claim 32, wherein when the position of each speaker ischanged after the installation, the controlling step is performed toprovide the optimum audio state responding to the change of position ofeach speaker.
 34. The method of claim 31, wherein, at the transmittingstep, each of the speakers sequentially output the test signal to thechecking device.
 35. The method of claim 31, wherein, at thetransmitting step, each of the speakers in combination output the testsignal to the checking device.
 36. The method of claim 31, wherein thepredefined audio characteristics corresponding to the listening area isstored in a memory included in the control device.
 37. A home theatersystem, comprising: a remote controller configured to transmit usercommand signals including an audio output adjusting key signal; aspeaker system of audio multi channels comprising a plurality ofspeakers, the plurality of speakers including front left/right speakers,rear left/right speakers, a center speaker, and a subwoofer speaker; achecking device receiving a test signal output from each of thespeakers, wherein the checking device is located at a desired listeningposition and includes a microphone to receive the test signal; and acontrol device, coupled to the checking device and the speakers, andadjusting an output level of each of the speakers to provide audio multichannels optimized for the desired listening position by considering aposition of each of the speakers, wherein the control device controlseach of the speakers to output the test signal to the checking devicewhen the control device receives the audio output adjusting key signalfrom the remote controller, and wherein the control device is configuredto determine where the checking device is located within a listeningarea based on the test signal by comparing audio characteristics of thetest signal to at least one of predefined audio characteristicscorresponding to the listening area.